Canadian actress and entrepreneur Shannon Ashley Garcia “Shay” Mitchell is currently facing criticism for stating on her show “Thirst With Shay Mitchell” that her ethnicity is Irish and Spanish while demonstrating her strong tolerance for spicy food.
@streamonmax Spicy Shay. #ThirstWithShayMitchell #ShayMitchell ♬ original sound – Max
However, her statement sparked backlash from numerous social media users and viewers of the show, who accused her of lying, as it is widely known that her mother, Precious Garcia, hails from Pampanga, Philippines, making Shay Mitchell half-Filipina.
In an interview with Pop Sugar in 2016, Shay Mitchell admitted that she used to hide her Filipino heritage due to insecurities about appearing “too Filipina” with tan skin. At the age of 17, she often faced bullying from classmates who ridiculed her appearance, prompting her to hide in the bathroom to avoid their taunts. However, as she matured and encountered diverse cultures and beauty standards, Shay eventually gained the confidence to embrace her true identity. She stated, “Why am I trying to change myself? I should be proud of who I am and what my heritage is.”
But because of the recent clip from her TV show, fans and casual viewers felt disappointed with how Mitchell acted which is the complete opposite of her former perception towards accepting her heritage during the past interview.
A few tweets also compared the situation with what happened to American actress Vanessa Hudgens claimed to be of Spanish descent as well. While the actions of these two where being criticized by social media users, they are also comparing their clear intent of denying their Filipino blood with how loud and proud content creator and model Bretman Rock is in promoting Filipino culture in his everyday Instagram stories.
Shay Mitchell, a Canadian actress and entrepreneur, rose to fame for her role as Emily Fields in “Pretty Little Liars.” Beyond acting, she’s a businesswoman with ventures like the travel brand BÉIS.
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